Electrical connector contact retention assembly

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector assembly contains removable contacts. An insulator member is mounted in the connector shell and has a plurality of cavities formed therein. A contact retention member comprises a disc portion, one face of which adjoins a face of the insulator. Yieldable clip members for securing the contact members in the connector assembly form an integral part of the retention member and extend from the disc portion face. The clip members are freely positioned in the insulator member cavities. The cavities limit a radial outward movement of the clip members when the contacts are inserted in the connector assembly. Each of the clip members may be split longitudinally and expanded radially upon insertion of the contact members. Further, the clip members may terminate in the cavities of the insulator member. The clip members abut the contact members at the clip termination and thus preventing the contacts from moving axially, once the contacts are fully positioned in the connector assembly. An insertion tool may be utilized for removal of the contact from the connector assembly.

United States Patent Anhalt et al.

[451 Jan. 25, 1972 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CONTACT RETENTION ASSEMBLY Inventors: Jonn W. Anhalt, La Crescenta; Bruce K.

Primary Examiner-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney-C. Cornell Remsen, .lr., Walter J. Baum, Paul W. Hemminger and Charles L. Johnson, Jr.

Arnold, Pasadena; Joseph Sugar, Los An- [57] ABSTRACT geles, all of Calif. An electrical connector assembly contains removable con- Asslgneel lmel'nailtfnfll Telephone and Telegraph tacts. An insulator member is mounted in the connector shell Corporatlon, New York, and has a plurality of cavities formed therein. A contact reten- [22] Filed; June 29, 1970 tion member comprises a disc portion, one face of which ad- 101115 a face of the insulator. Yieldable clip members for securl PP 50,629 ing the contact members in the connector assembly form an integral part of the retention member and extend from the disc 52 l portion face. The clip members are freely positioned in the ini 339/59 153? sulator member cavities. The cavities limit a radial outward 58] Fie'ld /59 63 217 movement of the clip members when the contacts are inserted in the connector assembly. Each of the clip members may be 6 split longitudinally and expanded radially upon insertion of [5 1 Reierences Cited the contact members. Further, the clip members may ter- UNITED STATES PATENTS minate in the cavities of the insulator member. The clip members abut the contact members at the clip termination and 3,477,061 11/1969 Stephenson ..339/59 M thus preventing the contacts from moving axially, once the 3,478,305 1 1/1969 chmfmliolo contacts are fully positioned in the connector assembly. An in- 3,394,339 1968 Gflsklevlcl al s sertion tool may be utilized for removal of the contact from the connector assembly.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures a4 2 2 w a 35 28 4 we f o /4 ,ae 464 62 2H a 1 U5 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CONTACT RETENTION ASSEMBLY The invention relates in general to electrical connector contact retention assemblies and, more particularly, to a plastic contact retaining clip which is formed as an integral part of an electrical connector assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of releasable electrical contacts in electrical connectors has rapidly increased due to its simplicity in field servicing of an electrical connector. Such replacement of contacts has obviated the necessity of replacing the entire connector assembly due to failure of a single contact. While 'both front and rear release retention systems have been utilized, the typical system utilizes a metal clip which is embedded in a plastic insulator for securing the contact in the connector assembly. Typical contact assemblies utilizing the metal clip are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,158,424.

The attendant disadvantages of metal clips in connector assemblies are well known. A primary disadvantage is the large cost in moulding in or otherwise mounting the metal clip in the assembly. Further, in the metal clip retention system, contact movement or splay normally results from clip geometry and movement due to an inadequate mounting of the clip in the connector assembly. To overcome the use of metal clips in releasable contact connector assemblies, a plastic clip retention system, such as is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,165,369 has been utilized. In the plastic clip retention system a snap-in contact retaining means comprises a unitary wafer in the connector member having a plurality of contact retention structures formed therein. While the plastic wafer has been successful in overcoming certain of the disadvantages of the metal clip, it has been found that the contact pins mounted in the wafers are not supported sufficiently in a radial direction. (Moreover, the unitary wafer normally is not adequately supported in the connector body structure.)

In order to overcome the attendant disadvantages of prior art contact retention assemblies, the present invention utilizes a plastic disc which is positioned between a pair of seals. By making the clip an integral part of the disc, movement of the contacts due to movement of the retention clips is eliminated. Moreover, the use of a plastic clip allows greater radial support than where a metal clip is utilized. Further, the conical cavities in the connector seal provide additional stabilization for the clips and contacts. As the result of the detail geometry of the clip and cavity, contact pin bending is substantially eliminated.

The advantages of this invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by references to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like referenced numerals designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 depicts a sectional view of an electrical connector having a contact retention assembly in accordance with the present invention wherein a pin contact is mounted in the connector;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view of an electrical connector similar to that shown in FIG. 1 wherein a socket contact is mounted in the connector body;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the retaining clip of FIG. 2 with the socket contact removed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 depicts a fragmentary sectional view of the connector assembly for releasing the socket contact from the connector assembly; and,

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view of the connector assembly of FIG. 2 with the tool fully inserted into the connector body.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a receptacle connector 12, containing a contact retention assembly in accordance with the invention. The receptacle connector 12 comprises a shell member 14, having an aluminum front shell portion l6, an outer central plastic shell portion 18, and a plastic inner shell portion 22. The shell portion is depicted as being made of both aluminum and plastic so that it is not only of low-cost construction, but may be made lightweight as well. The plastic portions may be secured to the aluminum portion by means of molding the plastic portions 18 and 22 around the metal portion 16.

The front shell portion 16 contains an enlarged forward bore portion 24, and a reduced diameter central bore portion 26, having a forward facing shoulder 28 at the junction of the two bores. Rearward of the central bore portion 26 is yet another bore portion 32, having a forward facing shoulder 34 formed at the junction of the bores 26 and 32. An inwardly extending flange 36 is formed in the shell portion 16 having a forward facing shoulder 38 at the rear termination of the bore 32 and a rearward facing shoulder 42 defining the rear surface of the flange 36. Further, a rear bore portion 44 extends from the rearward facing shoulder 42 to a rearward beveled angularly facing surface 46 defining the rear end of the shell member 16. The outer surface of the shell 16 contains a rear outer portion 48 which terminates at an outwardly extending flange 52, having an angularly fonned surface 54, defining the rearward facing shoulder of the flange 52.

The plastic inner shell portion 22 contains a rear bore portion 62 and a forward bore portion 64 interconnected by an inwardly extending flange portion 66 having a rearward facing shoulder 68 defining the front end of the rear bore portion 62 and the rear end of the inner surface 70 0f flange 66. Further, a forward facing shoulder defines the rear end of bore 64. The rear outer surface of the shell 22 is threaded as at 74, the threading terminating just short of the rear end of the shell 22. Further, a portion of the outer surface of the shell 22 is angularly tapered as at 76, so as to allow the shell portion 22 to be secured to the aluminum shell 18 at the surface 46.

An annular bore 84 of the portion 22 has its outer surface flush with the inner surface of the flange 36 and the front outer surface 86 is flush with the bore 32. A rearward facing shoulder 86 of bore 84 which abuts the forward facing shoulder 38 defines the rear end of surface 86.

The outer shell portion 18 contains an inner surface 92 which is flush with the outer surface portion 48 of the shell 16 and whose front surface 94 is angled to mate with the surface 54. Further, the rear end of the portion 18 contains an outwardly extending flange portion 96.

The contact retention assembly, mounted within the receptacle shell, comprises a rear insulator member 102 and a front insulator member 104 which are normally made of resilient elastomer material. Mounted between the rear and front insulator members is a contact retention member 106, normally made of a thermoplastic compound. The rear insulator member 102 has a rear facing surface 112 and a front surface 114. The outer diameter of the insulator 102 is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the flange portion 66 of the shell portion 22 at rear end thereof and of reduced diameter at the front end 115 which portion adjoins the flange 66. The front insulator 104 of the assembly has a rear surface 116 and a front surface 118. An annular groove 120 is formed on the outer surface of the insulator 104.

The front insulator 104 further contains a plurality of enlarged diameter rear bore portions 122 which taper slightly and terminate at a rearward facing shoulder I24 and reduced diameter forward bore portions 126 which are axially aligned with the rear bore portions 122. Further, a reduced diameter bore portion 128 whose diameter is approximately equal to the forward bore I26 extends forwardly from the rearward facing shoulder I24. A reduced diameter central bore portion 132 interconnects the bores 126 and 128 and the junctions thereof are defined by an angularly sloped forward facing shoulder I34 and an angularly sloped rearward facing shoulder 136.

The contact retention member 106 is formed of a disc member 138 whose rear surface is bonded to the front surface 114 and whose front surface is bonded to the rear surface 116 of insulator member 104. Further, the outer diameter of the disc is reduced at its rear surface 140 and enlarged at its front surface 142, so that the rear surface adjoins the flange 66 as a continuation of surface 115. Also, a plurality of forwardly extending yieldable split clip members 144 extend from the front surface of the disc 138. The outer surface of the clip members 144 normally taper forwardly so that there is a clearance between the bore 122 of the forward insulator 104 and the outer surface with the clearance being greatest at the front end of the clip. The front end of the clips are chamfered as at 146 and contain an enlarged forward bore portion 148 and a reduced diameter rear bore portion 152. The bore portions 148 and 152 are interconnected by an intermediate diameter bore portion 154. Further, the member 106 contains an enlarged rear bore portion 156 which terminates in a rearward facing shoulder 158. Also, the rear end of the bore portion 152 terminates at the shoulder 158.

Mounted around the outer surface of the front seal and positioned within the annular groove 120 is a face seal 162. The face seal contains a rearward facing annular opening 164 which is directly adjacent to the front surface of the inner central plastic portion 20.

The rear insulator member 102 and the front insulator member 104 are bonded to the contact retention member 106, then these three members, together with the face seal 162, are inserted into the connector shell from the front thereof and the disc 106 is ultrasonically welded to the rear shell portion 22 in the vicinity of the forward facing shoulder 72. Of course, other arrangements for sealing the inner connector assembly to the shell are possible.

A conventional pin contact 200 is mounted in the connector assembly and contains a front contact surface 202 which extends beyond the front surface 118 of the front insulator 104. The front contact surface 202 terminates at its tear in a contact barrel 204 having a diameter whose central portion is greater than the contact surface portion 202 and whose front portion 206 tapers so that its front diameter is equal to the diameter of the contact surface portion 202. Further, the rear portion of the member 204 is connected through a transitional section 208 to another transition section 210. The section 210 is connected to a barrel 211 which abuts a locating shoulder 212, whose forward outer surface abuts the rearwardly facing shoulder 158 of the member 106. The rear surface of the shoulder is connected to a clamp portion 213, which, in turn, is connected to a wire support barrel 214, which, in turn, are connected to a pair of ripples 216-218 which form a moisture barrier in the rear insulator 102.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an alternative arrangement for the contact retention assembly wherein a socket 240 is mounted within the contact retention assembly and is adapted to be mated with the pin assembly of FIG. 1. The only differences between the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that a front insulator 242 is extended forwardly so as to cover the front end of the socket. Further, inwardly extending protrusions 244 are used to support the socket in the front insulator. The socket portion 246 extends so that its rear end 248 has a rearward tapered surface whose outer diameter is equal to the outer surface of the socket contact portion 246 and whose rear end is equal to the outer diameter of the front of the transitional portion 250.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a front release tool 300 which may be utilized with either the pin contact embodi- Further, the front end of the tool contains tapered ed es 306 which taper forwardly from the outer surface 302 to e inner surface 304 of the tool.

As the tool 300 is inserted into the front end of the front insulator 242, the members 244 are diverted away. The front tapered surface 306 encounters the chamfered surface 146 of the clip and as the tool is further inserted causes the clip 144 to be deflected outwardly until its outer surfaces tend to abut the inner surface of the tapered bore 122. When the clip is in this position, an inner tube 308 may be inserted forwardly pushing the contact rearward. The contact may then be removed rearwardly from the connector.

Further, while the connector assembly has been depicted as having a front release, rear removal contact, it should be understood that other modifications are possible. For example, the assembly could be used in a rear release, rear removal arrangement, as well.

We claim:

1. An electrical connector assembly having rear removable contacts mounted therein and comprising: a connector shell member; an insulator member mounted in said connector shell member having a plurality of cavities formed therein in an axis parallel to the axis of said connector shell, said cavities terminating at one end in a face of said insulator member; a contact retention member having a disc portion, one face of which adjoins said insulator face, yieldable clip members for securing contact members in said connector assembly forming an integral part of said retention member and extending from said disc portion face toward the front end of said connector assembly and freely positioned in said insulator member cavities, said cavities limiting radial outward movement of said clip members when said contacts are inserted in said connector assembly; and means formed in said insulator member for inserting a tool into the front end of said connector assembly when said contacts are fully inserted in said connector assembly; said clips being radially yieldable by said tool when said contacts are in said fully inserted position for allowing said contact to be removed from the rear of said connector assembly.

2. An electrical connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said clip members are split longitu dinally and expand radially upon insertion of said contact members.

3. An electrical connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said clip members terminate in said cavities, said clip members abutting said contact members at the clip termination and preventing said contacts from moving axially when said contacts are fully positioned in said connector assembly.

4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said front ends of said clips are champhered for allowing insertion of releasing tool which facilitates removal of said contact.

I! t 18 i 

1. An electrical connector assembly having rear removable contacts mounted therein and comprising: a connector shell member; an insulator member mounted in said connector shell member having a plurality of cavities formed therein in an axis parallel to the axis of said connector shell, said cavities terminating at one end in a face of said insulator member; a contact retention member having a disc portion, one face of which adjoins said insulator face, yieldable clip members for securing contact members in said connector assembly forming an integral part of said retention member and extending from said disc portion face toward the front end of said connector assembly and freely positioned in said insulator member cavities, said cavities limiting radial outward movement of said clip members when saiD contacts are inserted in said connector assembly; and means formed in said insulator member for inserting a tool into the front end of said connector assembly when said contacts are fully inserted in said connector assembly; said clips being radially yieldable by said tool when said contacts are in said fully inserted position for allowing said contact to be removed from the rear of said connector assembly.
 2. An electrical connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said clip members are split longitudinally and expand radially upon insertion of said contact members.
 3. An electrical connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said clip members terminate in said cavities, said clip members abutting said contact members at the clip termination and preventing said contacts from moving axially when said contacts are fully positioned in said connector assembly.
 4. An electrical connector in accordance with claim 1 wherein said front ends of said clips are champhered for allowing insertion of releasing tool which facilitates removal of said contact. 